Loose-leaf binder



R. M. VAN VALKENBURGH LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed June 2, 1924 Richard MVanYa f ifmh Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,575,294 PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD M. VAN VALKENBURGI-I, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO IRVING- PITT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION.

LOOSE-LEAF mama.

Application filed June 2,

To all whom it may 0011mm:

Be it known that I, Biol-mm) M. VAN

VALnnNnUnoH, a citizen of States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in LooseLeaf Binders, of which the following is a complete specification. The present invention relates to improvements in loose-leaf binders, and the invention has for its general object to provide means for securing a-positive retaining of the leaves within said binder when same is not in actual use and subject to such falls or blows as are likely to dislbdge and scatter the sheets.

1t is well known in this art, that looseleaf binder leaves having punchings open to the edge free themselves from the binders grip when the same is dropped or-jolted. This invention contemplatessimple means for overcoming this inconvenience and has for its object the provision ofa special punching in the binder leaf which co-operates with removable retaining means, held in engagement by the binder members, but which does not interfere with the removalor transfer of said leaves from the binder during its use.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a leaf having a special punching for allowing an expansible post to be positioned in engagement with the binder members without removing the entire contents of the binder from the leaf holding posts or even forcing the leaves out of their proper position in any way.

The invention further makes provision for the use of this safety feature with any style of loose-leaf binder.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully clescribed hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts througln out the several views,

Figure 1 is a vertical fragmentary section through an expansible back binder showing the special leaf punching in cross section and the retaining post being inserted.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the binder closed and the retaining post in position.

Fig. 3 is a corresponding sectionshowing the United 1924. Serial No. 717,424.-

hollow and, in both instances, are provided with sockets 10, which are preferably centrally located with reference to the ends of members 9, and are in alinement with posts 8, and extend but part way through said members 9.

An expansion post 11 of the ordinary type including male member 12, female member 13 and'compression spring 14 is preferably used to Iengage i sockets 10, as

shown in Fig. 2, and retain the leaves of the binder inposition in the eventof a' fall or sudden blow which would ordinarily dislodge the leaves from the gripped engage ment between members 9. This construction also prevents unauthorizedpersons and t hose not holding the key, inthe case of key operatedibinders,from removing the leaves without tearing.

To carry out this desirable feature, the invention further contemplates the use of a specially punched leaf 15 which is provided with an elongated opening 16 punched to aline with the sockets 10 of binder members 9 when leaves 15 engage posts 8 with notches 17, as clearly shown in Fig. l.

The elongated. opening 16 is of uniform width, lies at right angles to the binding edge of the leaf 15, and is'slightly spaced from it to provide an engagement for the expansion post.

Operation.

When the binder is in actual use, the expansionpost is removed. In replacing the leaf retaining means, the leaves are'arranged in engagement with posts 8, as illustrated in Fig. 4:, the expansion post passed down through elongated openings 16, as shown in Fig. 1, male member 12 pressed downwardly and inwardly and snapped into socket 10 of the upper binder member 9. The binder is then pressed together and locked as shown in Fig. 2. This related construction of leaf having an eXp-ansible back 'supportingsa' pair of binder members, leafholding posts carried by said members :and airexpansion post adapted to be positioned in sockets formed .in each binder member, a plurality of sheets removably engaging: said leaf hold-ingposts each having means allowing the positionmg of said eXpa-nsible post in said sockets while said leaves are 1n the post engaging position.

2. In combination with a loose-leaf binder having an expansible back supporting-a pair of bindermembers, leaf holdingpo'sts" carried by said members and an expansion post adapted to be'positioned in sockets formed in each binder member, a. plurality of sheets removably engaging sald leaf holding posts having means for allowing-said expans on post to be positioned insaid sockets while said leaves-are 1n the post engaging position,

comprising an elongated opening having the long axis thereof at right angles to the binding edge thereof,-1n verticalalinement with said socketsand spaced inwardly from said binding-edge. a v V 3. Aloose-leafbmder comprising in combination, a pair of binder members each having a" socket formed therein intermediate its ends, leaf holding posts supported by said binder members, a plurality of leaves provided with openings along one edge for 'removably' engaging said posts and an elongated opening in vertical alinement with the sockets in each binder member whereby an expansion post may be positioned in said sockets without removing the binder members from said leaf holding posts.

,4. A loose-leaf binder comprising in combination, a pair of binder members each I having aso'cketformed therein intermediate fits ends,- telescopmg back oining said members tomaintain the same in spaced vertical alinement, telescoping leaf holding posts supported-by said binder members, a plurality of leaves provided with openings along one edge for removably engaging said posts and anelongated opening having the long axis thereof at right angles to the binding edge of the sheet in vertical alinement with said sockets and spacedinwardly from said binding edge whereby an expansion post may be positioned in said sockets to hold the sheets against removal from said binder. vv 5. In combination with a loose-leaf binder provided with a socketed binder member, a lillerleaf having an elongated opening of -uniform width adjacent the binding edge thereof, whereby an expansion post may be positioned in said socket without disassembling said binder.

,In testimony whereofI hereunto aliix my signature this 29th day of May, 1924.

' mculiun'n. VAN VALKENBURGH. 

